George Dickel No. 12

Very forward alcohol, but smooth taste.

Beginner. Try to benchmark off other whiskies. Feel the burn, but not too strong. Think of it as a lingering feeling.

I wad surprised how well I liked this one. Well worth the $$

Peppercorn, oak. Very smooth

Caramel corn, pine, peanut shells, sugar, oak.

Tasting this neat from a NEAT tasting glass. I'm tasting this side by side with the Dickel 8 year bourbon. It almost doesn't make sense for there to be two whiskies that are so alike and separated by only a dollar or so in price in my market (Tampa). I liked the Dickel 8 Year Bourbon quite a bit, especially at its sub $25 price point. Let's see how this expression compares. On the nose the Dickel 12 comes out sweeter with creamy peanut butter, caramel and vanilla notes. There's a bit of a perfume note & a whiff of latex paint in the fading notes if you really get your nose in there. In comparison the 8 Yr has more of a cake frosting sugar note, but its met solidly with barrel char, vanilla and dry oak tannins. On the palate the 8 Yr opens on a sweet note with caramelized sugar and vanilla followed by baking spices with a warming finish. The 12 is less sharp in its introduction of barrel sugars, is softer all around in focus and is less complex. The 12 feels just a bit thinner while also being a bit more homogenous in its flavor profile. It's like a lens just slightly out of focus and I can't really pick apart any details in the flavor profile. It's very tasty, but not at all demanding. I've enjoyed about half the 12 so far. It makes a very nice Manhattan and an equally good Paper Plane. It's completely acceptable as a sipper. But for $1 less in my market the 8 Year Bourbon is the better buy and the more interesting expression. I doubt I'll replace this bottle when its finished, but I'll most definitely replace the 8 Year. George Dickel No. 12 is a solid Tennessee whiskey. It's easy to enjoy on its own or as a mixer. It's affordable. It's not demanding and is a good choice for a drinker with a less adventurous palate. It just seems to miss that little bit of sparkle.